Kevin Palmer
Daniil Medvedev leads his head-to-head with Jannik Sinner but 6-3 – but that only tells a fraction of the story ahead of their meeting in the Australian Open final.
The Russian star appeared to hold all the aces against the rising Italian star as he won their first six meetings, many of them in convincing fashion.
Yet Sinner’s improvement in all areas of his game allowed him to win his first match against Medvedev in Beijing last October and he offered up these comments after that win.
“Daniil, thanks for letting me win at least one match,” said Sinner. “We have had some very tough battles, especially this year. Thanks for making me a much better player. I have been training a lot to beat you.
The Italian backed up that win by beating Medvedev on two more occasions in Vienna and at the ATP Finals in the final weeks of last season, with the Italian now appearing to have the upper hand in this battle.
Medvedev has suggested Sinner is now a force to be reckoned with after his defeat in the ATP Finals in Turin, but does he have the answer to his firepower as these two players meet in their first Grand Slam final?
WHAT TIME WILL IT START?
The men’s Australian Open Final gets underway at 7.30pm local time in Melbourne on Sunday, which is 8.30am in London and 4.30am on the east coast of America.
SINNER SAYS
“Obviously, it means so much to me to beat Novak here in Melbourne, but in another way, I know that the tournament is not over. Sunday is a final. It’s different emotions because the final is always different.
“It doesn’t really matter how big the tournament is. In my mind today I knew it was the semi-final. It’s not that you win the tournament like this. I’m looking forward for Sunday, and let’s see what’s coming.
“Daniil is a great player. He beat me every time we played to start with, but I managed to find a way to beat him last year a few times and I have to build on that.
“Sunday is a final. It’s different emotions because the final is always different. Doesn’t really matter how big the tournament is, so it’s — you know, in my mind today I knew it was the semi-final. It’s not that you win the tournament like this.
“So I’m looking forward for Sunday, and let’s see what’s coming.”
READ MORE:How many hours has Daniil Medvedev spent on court compared to Jannik Sinner, can he break Carlos Alcaraz’s record?
MEDVEDEV SAYS
“Physical advantage I probably don’t have. Tennis advantage, let’s see. But three last times he got me. So I hope that this experience can help me.
“First final, I think it’s always different for everyone. I’m sure some guys went out in the first final and felt so good they just managed to win it. Some would go and it would be tough mentally and they would lose.
“I have no idea how Jannik is going to be, but I have this experience. I will try my best. I will fight for my life, and let’s see who wins.”
Medvedev is one of the quirkiest characters on tour and he has had a love-hate relationship with crowds around the world, but a personal vow to behave better on court seems to be paying dividends.
“Mentally 100 per cent I’m stronger than I was before this tournament because now I know that I’m capable of some things maybe I thought I’m not, because before I didn’t do anything like this to get to the final.”
Jannik Sinner’s route to Australian Open final
1st round: vs Botic van de Zandschulp – won 6-4 7-5 6-3
2nd round: vs Jesper de Jong (Q) – won 6-2 6-2 6-2
3rd round: vs Sebastian Baez (26) – won 6-0 6-1 6-3
4th round: vs Karen Khachanov (15) – won 6-4 7-5 6-3
Quarter-finals: vs Andrey Rublev (5) – won 6-4 7-6 6-3
Semi-finals: vs Novak Djokovic (1) – won 6-1 6-2 6-7 6-3
Daniil Medvedev’s route to Australian Open final
1st round: vs Terence Atmane (Q) – won 5-7 6-2 6-4 1-0
2nd round: vs Emil Ruusuvuori – won 3-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 6-0
3rd round: vs Felix Auger-Aliassime – won 6-3 6-4 6-3
4th round: vs Nuno Borges – won 6-3 7-6 5-7 6-1
Quarter-finals: vs Hubert Hurkacz (9) – won 7-6 2-6 6-3 5-7 6-4
Semi-finals: vs Alexander Zverev (6) – won 5-7 3-6 7-6 7-6 6-3
Jannik Sinner vs Daniil Medvedev head-to-head
2023: ATP Finals – Sinner won 6-3 6-7 6-1
2023: Vienna – Sinner won 7-6 4-6 6-3
2023: Beijing – Sinner won 7-6 7-6
2023; Miami – Medvedev won 7-5 6-3
2023: Rotterdam – Medvedev won 5-7 6-3 6-2
2023: Vienna – Medvedev – won 6-4 6-2
20221: ATP Finals – Medvedev – won 6-0 6-7 7-6
